Safety-bit.



No. 676,3l2. w Y -natented1 une`1|,.|9o|.

E. c. HAWTHORNE.

' SAFETY BIT.

(Appummn med Nov. v, 1900.)

(No Mnde'l.)

UNITED STATES l u PATENT FFICE.

EDMUND CJHAWTHORNE, OF IIARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAFETYB|T.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,812, dated June 11, 1901.

Application led November 7. 1900. Serial No. 35,716. (No model) .To /LZZ whom z5 may concern:

Be it known that LEDMUND C. HAWTHORNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety-Bits, ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to safety bits for horses; and one object of the same is to provide simple and efficient means for rendering the bit severe whenever the horse becomes unruly or attempts to run away, but which under normal conditions will serve as an ordinary bit.

Another object is to provide an overdraw check-bit with means for controlling the animal in case he should become fractions or attempt to kick or run away.

I attain these objects by means of the construction shown in the accompanying draw ings, which form part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a safetybit made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same in its normal position, as it would be when thehorse was going along all right and the reins subject to the ordinary tension. Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating the position the parts would occupy relative to each other when the horse was pulled up moderately to dissuade him from cutting up or kicking. Fig. 4 is a similar View showing the position of the bit when the horse was pulled up hard to keep him from running away.

Like numerals of reference designate like parts wherever they occur in the diiferent views.

As shown inthe drawings, the numerals l.

designate the cheek-rings of the bit, and these rings each consist of the bars 2 2, having a slot 3 for the cheek-strap of the bridle and the circular aperture 4E for the driving-reins. A curved bar 5, circular Vin cross-section, eX- tends across the inner part of the ring 1, and connected `to these bars 5 is the bit-bar 6. The ends of the bit-bar 6 are provided with apertures 7, which it loosely upon the bars 5, so as to slide thereon, for a purpose which will hereinafter be referred to. The bar 2 of each cheek-ring is formed into a guideway consisting of the bars 2 2b, and these bars may be either integral or the bar 2b may be secured to the bar 2, if found desirable. The overdraw-levers 8 are curved,as,shown, and are pivoted at one end of the bar 2", as at 9. These levers 8 extend through the guideway formed by the bars 2 2b and are provided at their outer ends with apertures 10 for the overdraw-checkreins. The levers 8 are also outwardly curved at ll to give room for the 'free sliding section of the bit-bar 6, and a small round cross-bar l2 extends from one lever 8 to the other and is rigidly secured to them.

.The operation of my safety-bit is as follows When the bit is in the position shown in Fig.

1, with the overdraw check-levers forwardly disposed, the bit-bar 6 and the cross-bar l2 rest in the animals month, and the horse may be controlled under ordinary circumstances with the bit in this position. Should the horse, however, show a disposition to kick or become unruly, a pull n pon the reins would throw the lower portion of the bit-reins backward to the position shown in Fig. 3, the overdraw-levers 8 moving upward on their pivots to the position shown in said ligure. Should the horse attempt to run away, a fur ther pull upon the reins would carry the lower portion of the cheek-rings back to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the bit-bar 6 would slide on the curved bar 5. The sliding of the bit-bar 6 onvthe bars 5 prevents the horse from stopping the operation of the bit by catching and holding the bar 6 between its teeth. That it could still catch the bar 6 between its teeth is not denied; but its doing so would not prevent the operation of the bit, as this bar' would slide freely on the bars 5, thus enabling the rider to bring the bar 12 into action and restrain the horse. When the reins are slacked up, the bit again assumes the position shown in Fig. l.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that my safety-bit is simple in construction and efficient in use and that unless a strong pull is exerted on the reins the bit is gentle and easy for the horse; but by pulling upon the check-levers pivoted to seid rings, `the bar connecting said overdraw check-levers, and the guideways on said rings constructed t0 retain said check-levers and to limit the upward movement thereof,substantally as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDMUND c. HAWTHORNE.

Witnesses:

OSCAR F. ELLIS, PHILIP E. HARRIS. 

